Saab BioPower 100 Concept E100 Ethanol Vehicle

By Bill Siuru

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Saab’s 9-5 BioPower is Europe’s best selling E85 ethanol car. Saab, a leader in flexible-fuel and turbocharging technology, has broken new ground with it BioPower 100 Concept. An evolution of the Saab 9-5 SportCombi, this is the first production-based turbocharged engine to be optimized for pure E100 ethanol.

Saab’s objective was to show how “rightsizing” through turbocharging can give “large” engine power from small displacement engines. Pure ethanol, with its high 106 RON octane rating, allows higher compression ratios for more power than is normally possible with turbocharging, without harmful knocking (self-ignition).

The BioPower 100 Concept uses a modified version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder gasoline engine used in the current Saab 9-5. Modifications to the engine management system and internal components allow the engine to fully utilize the benefits of E100’s high octane to allow a higher 11.0:1 compression ratio, compared to 8.8:1 for the gasoline engine. Also, a higher turbocharger boost, up to 17.6 psi, is possible without risk of knocking

The shape of the piston crowns were modified to reduce combustion chamber volume, thereby raising compression ratio. Also added were more durable valves and valve seats as well as bioethanol-compatible fuel system materials.

New software for Saab’s Trionic engine management system handles the different ignition timing and fuel/air mixture requirements of E100. The BioPower 100 Concept is still a flexible fuel vehicle being able to also run on gasoline or E85, but with reduced power. Trionic monitors fuel quality after every fill-up and automatically makes any adjustments for running on E100, E85, or gasoline in any combination.

Pure ethanol presents cold starting challenges, which is one of the reasons why 15 percent gasoline is added to create E85 and overcome this. So how did Saab handle the cold-starting problem inherent with running pure ethanol? Simply, innovation. The BioPower 100 Concept has an experimental fuel heating system with small heating elements in the inlet ports, just downstream of the injectors. Until the engine heats up, these ports warm the incoming fuel sufficiently so it vaporizes and overcomes the problem.

The bottom line is an increase in peak output power from 150 horsepower to 300 horsepower, resulting in a high specific power output of 150 hp-per-liter. Thus, the Saab BioPower 100 Concept car can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.6 second compared to 10.2 seconds for the regular Saab 9-5. According to Saab, the E100 version gives on demand performance typical of a 4-liter engine.

As expected, fuel consumption is higher with E100 because of ethanol’s lower energy density, but Saab believes that E100 fuel consumption can move closer to gasoline levels with the future addition of direct injection and lean-burn technology. Also, E100 could be combined with hybrid technology as Saab has already shown its BioPower Hybrid Concept.

Saab Aero X E100 Bioethanol-Powered Supercar

By Todd Kaho

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Fueled by pure bioethanol, Saab’s sculpted Aero X Concept is ready for take-off. Though a design exercise, the Aero X takes Saab’s BioPower expertise to a whole new level. Topped with 106 octane E100 (pure bioethanol), this cool concept produces 400 horsepower from its turbocharged 2.8-liter V-6 BioPower engine. All that power is transferred to the ground through a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system with variable front/rear torque split and a seven-speed, double clutch automated manual transmission.

The result is supercar performance with super-clean green tailpipe emissions. Since no gasoline is used in the fuel mix, zero fossil CO2 emissions are produced. Unlike the heart of Europe, where high fuel prices have made diesel prominent, Sweden is very much in tune with clean, renewable E85 ethanol. Saab’s BioPower technology is extremely popular in their homeland. Forward thinking with an eye on minimizing dependence on foreign fuel sources has restrained the Swedish government from heavily taxing E85 like petroleum. The result is ethanol gaining acceptance as a preferred fuel in Scandinavia.

Blending legacy with the future, Aero X goes beyond the examination of new ideas or niche markets. According to Anthony Lo, director of Advanced Design GM Europe, “this car is what you get when you allow designers to take Saab’s rich heritage and dream. But the Aero X is much more than that – it’s a canvas to explore signature cues for Saab’s next generation product portfolio.”

Saab is fittingly proud of its aviation heritage, as the current “Born from Jets” marketing campaign exalts. That aviation lineage is clearly evident in the jet fighter themes Saab stylists melded into the Aero X. The most obvious of these is the fighter-like cockpit canopy that moves up and forward over the cowl area to allow access to a two-seater interior. In essence, the design eliminates traditional doors and windshield pillars and allowed the overall design of the cabin area to flow. From inside there is an unobstructed 180-degree view. The rear glass blends cleanly into a full overhead glass roof section to further enhance the fighter canopy feel.

The super-sleek coachwork is crafted from weight-saving carbon fiber. Aero X’s shape is both fast and muscular – a difficult design composite to create – but the Aero X finds it in a way that is visually stunning. A low slung sports coupe, Aero X has a roof height of just 50 inches and occupants sit extremely low to the ground. This wind-cheating profile is allowed by the monocoque chassis design.

Coming or going, the Saab design cues are evident. In the front, it’s easy to pick out the signature three-port Saab face grille treatment. The two deep lower air inlets are functional, force feeding air to the turbo intercoolers. A favorite design element, the huge eleven spoke alloy wheels are clearly inspired by the turbine compressor section of a jet engine.

Inside, Aero X is all jet cockpit. From the deep seating position and high center console, to the three-dimensional glass cockpit displays and use of indirect LED lighting, the driver and passenger are treated to an interior that is all business, yet surprisingly inviting.

Saab’s vision of the future is a dynamic illustration of how exciting green cars can become given the opportunity to dream.